A few years ago I was invited to a distinctly different birthday event. We all met atop Nob Hill. It was a typically chilly and foggy San Francisco night and all the streetlights had that weird halo effect going on, like they used to do around Cybill Shepherd’s head on Moonlighting (if you are a child of the 80s, you know what I mean). We sat enjoying some beverages from our brown paper bags, waiting for our guide to show up. She dramatically appeared, floating through the fog and shadows to greet us. She claimed to be Mina Harker of Dracula fame, and she looked and acted the part so well, I must say I have no reason to doubt her word.
We trailed behind our velvet-clad leader as she walked around Nob Hill, educating us about San Francisco’s unwritten spooky past. Quite a lot of San Francisco’s colorful history came out (it was, after all, known as the Barbary Coast) in addition to some possibly mythical tales Mina also shared. I have to give her credit, she kept ten or so fairly tipsy, and getting colder by the second, long time San Franciscans riveted. It helps that Nob Hill at night is gorgeous, the Fairmont Hotel, Grace Cathedral, the Mark Hopkins, and many other architectural wonders of San Francisco are all perched atop that one hill. Add a little scenic fog, a 150+ year old vampire with some great stories, and you have a magical night!
But all good things must come to an end, and it was cold, shivery, blowing on your hands cold. We were inclined to beat it indoors to the nearest venue for hot toddies and Irish coffees. But Mina said she had one last tale to tell. A member of our group (who shall remain nameless) moved by the spirit of the tour yelled, “Vamp it up!” And, as she had been doing wonderfully all night, she did.
By Kelly G.
Want to join Mina on Nob Hill? You’re not too late to book the Vampire Tour of San Francisco for Halloween, or many of the other vamperific Halloween activities from Viator.
Photo courtesy of Viator.com
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